D-Mannose is a simple carbohydrate similar
in structure to glucose. Some unfriendly bacteria have lectins
(adhesion molecules), which bind to residues of mannose in the epithelium of
the urinary tract. Some clinical experience suggests that supplemental
D-Mannose acts as a molecular “chaff” to which bacteria bind, preventing
them from binding to urinary tract cells.

Product Discussion from AOR:

Although urinary tract
infections (UTIs) can involve a variety of
Enterobacteriaceae and Gram-positive pathogens
(including Staphylococcus saprophyticus and
some enterococci species), nearly all infections of
the lower urinary tract and bladder are caused by a
few strains of E. coli bacteria called
uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Various
harmless strains of E. coli are normally
present in the body – but they don’t belong in the
urinary tract.

If UPEC get into the bladder or the urethra, the body has
ways of fighting them off – including the obvious method of
simply flushing them out with the urine. But these bacteria
have evolved ways of anchoring themselves to the cells of
the urinary tract. The invading UPEC take advantage of
receptors naturally found on the cells of the mucosal
lining of the urinary tract. Receptors are like molecular
"docking bays" for substances that the cells need for their
normal growth and development. Like pirates in an old movie,
UPEC use "grappling hooks" called type I pili to
first hook on to these receptors, and then to invade the
cell.

Once inside the cell, these pathogens can live and reproduce
in safety, shielded from many of the body’s defensive immune
responses. In fact, they are so sophisticated that when the
body detects that cells have been infected and activates the
cell suicide program to destroy the bacteria, UPEC can
actually flee the dying host cell before it is flushed out,
and look for new cells to invade!

Pathogenic E. coli bacteria’s pili "grappling hooks"
are composed of long, fibrous chains of a molecular "glue"
called adhesin. The effective binding of these
adhesin molecules depends on the chemical attraction that
exists between them and the residues of a simple
carbohydrate called D-Mannose on the cell surface
receptors of the urinary tract host cells.

The chemical attraction between UPEC adhesins and
D-Mannose is their strength – but it also provides a
point of vulnerability. If you can interfere with the
binding of adhesins to the D-Mannose residues in the
receptors of your urinary tract cells, then you can also
prevent UPEC from getting a foothold for adherence and
infection. One way to do this, long known to work in a
test tube, is by using D-Mannose itself. When
isolated urinary tract cells are bathed in D-Mannose,
it acts as a molecular "chaff." The bacterial adhesins bind
to the D-Mannose in their environment instead of to
the D-Mannose residues on the cells. This gums up
their pili and prevents them from hooking onto urinary tract
cells.

It was discovered in the late 1980s that a small amount of
D-Mannose is present in the urine normally,
apparently acting as a defensive mechanism against
pathogenic bacteria. When D-Mannose is taken as a
supplement, much more of the carbohydrate passes through the
urinary tract, strengthening this natural defense.

A decade after this discovery, Dr. Jonathan V. Wright of the
Tahoma Clinic pioneered the use of D-Mannose
supplements to fight off UTIs. For some years, he has been
reporting the successful results that his patients have
experienced in using D-Mannose to rid themselves of
infection. Even patients who had remained infected after
having been subjected to a wide range of potent,
side-effect-inducing antibiotics have successfully rid
themselves of chronic or acute infections using
D-Mannose. Other nutritionally oriented physicians and
health practitioners have since adopted Dr. Wright’s
protocols, and the feedback is uniformly excellent from UTI
sufferers and their caregivers alike.

Again, not all UTIs are caused by UPEC. So if you try a
course of D-Mannose and infection persists, it is
likely not caused by these E. coli bacteria but by some
other pathogen. In that case, don’t just keep going on with
the supplement in hopes that it will eventually "kick in:"
discontinue use of D-Mannose and consult a physician
for treatment appropriate to your case. But for the great
majority of urinary tract infections,

D-Mannose offers a safe, natural option with a
simple, ingenious rationale, no known side-effects, and a
great reported success rate.

The
information and product descriptions
appearing on this website are for
information purposes only, and are not
intended to provide medical advice to
individuals. Consult with your physician if
you have any health concerns, and before
initiating any new diet, exercise,
supplement, or other lifestyle changes. Any
reproduction in whole or part and in print
or electronic form without express
permission is strictly forbidden. Permission
to reproduce selected material may be
granted by contacting AOR Inc.

Suggested Usage: Take 1-2 g (approximately 1/2-1 teaspoon) D-Mannose in
water every 3-4 hours, or as directed by a qualified health practitioner.

Other Label Information: Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant or
nursing, consult a physician.

SUPPLEMENT FACTSServing Size: 1/2 teaspoon

Amount % DV

D-Mannose

1.1 g *

*Daily Value not established

Contains no common allergen.

*These statements have not been
evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat,
cure or prevent any disease.

Beachwood Canyon, Naturally, Ltd. Web Site: Statements presented on this website are for educational purposes only. The product information provided on this web site is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and/or advice. Selected research abstracts are presented as representative of the literature and are not presented as an exhaustive literature review of ingredients or products presented by Beachwood Canyon, Naturally, Ltd. If you have a medical condition, consult your physician before starting any supplements.

* Statements contained on this web site, in its entirety, have not been evaluated or reviewed by the FDA (unless otherwise noted) and neither the information presented nor the products offered are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.